Sid Bacon

Greetings!  I am writing a short blog today mainly to let you know that I am in the hospital (this is day 2).  I woke up two nights ago with a very high fever (104 plus), and was pretty lethargic. We came to the emergency room at Mayo yesterday morning about 5:30. I have an infection in my bilirubin drainage site. They will replace that tube. There is also another site that is suspect; it may require its own drainage tube, and presumably an external tube as well (certainly not something I want).  I have the drainage bag for now … not my first choice, but it is just temporary.  I am hopeful that they can resolve the infection, and I’ll live with whatever consequences there are with regard to tubes and bags.  I think the bags will be temporary.
 

Given that this is Friday, I will not be writing again until Monday at the earliest (it just depends on whether or not I am still in the hospital).
 

I hope you have a great weekend! 

I was discharged from Mayo Hospital on Sunday, around noon.  It is a great hospital, with highly competent physicians and nurses, but it is always great to be home.  I am very happy to be home.
 

The folks at Mayo found the site of the infection; it was the biliary drainage tube.  They replaced the old tube with a new and superior tube.  I will go back in 3-4 weeks to have the tube checked and will also be evaluated for internalizing the entire tube.  I currently have a portion of the tube protruding from my side. I hope I am a good candidate for having it all internalized.  It presumably is much more comfortable and it would not require the daily maintenance that the externalized tube requires. I currently have a bag attached to the externalized portion of my tube. My second-hand understanding is that we want to drain the infected site as quickly as possible, so we are draining both internally and externally.
 

In addition to inserting a new tube, they determined the bacterium that was responsible for my infection and fever; I now have an antibiotic that targets that particular bacterium.  We are good to go.
 

The TPN is doing its job as well.  I now weigh about 136 pounds; my low point was about 118 and my target weight is 145 pounds.  I have come a long way.  And I’m pretty sure it was not the hospital food! It will be tough to add those last 9 pounds, as I do not have much of an appetite yet. I’ll nevertheless have to keep eating, even when I’m not hungry.  Some of the loss of appetite could be the TPN itself; when you get a lot of calories intravenously, it can take the edge off your appetite.  We’ll see what happens when I go off the TPN.  I don’t know when that will be …
 

Cathy and I went on a short walk yesterday afternoon and one of our regular walks this morning, after Cathy had run. Neither walk was fast-paced, but it was great to be out and walking with Cathy.  It was to my advantage to go slow, to extend my time with her … and it is certainly important for me to keep walking. 
 

I feel fortunate that things are going pretty well.  The hospitalization was a setback, but good things may happen as a consequence, so it may not be such a setback after all.  I would like to look at this as a good start to the New Year.
 

I hope you all had a great start to the New Year.  Thanks for your continued love and support.  It means a great deal to Cathy and me. We can’t thank you enough.

We had a successful trip to Piper to have normal blood work completed (which is necessary on a weekly basis when I am receiving TPN) and to see my oncologist.  The game plan is to continue with TPN for awhile longer and not start chemotherapy until probably the beginning of February.  Based on the CT scan taken while I was in the hospital, my oncologist was not in a hurry.  Everything looks pretty good, and there is really nothing to be seen on my liver. That is good news.  Cathy and I also met with the radiation oncologist as a final follow-up. She was pleased with the reduced pain and didn’t feel the need to see me again.
 

I have another CT scan scheduled for the 29th of January at Mayo.  This scan should satisfy Mayo and Piper.  Mayo wants to check the biliary drainage site and Piper wants a picture of that area and of my entire abdomen, to check the area of the tumor. On the 31st of January, I’ll go back to Mayo for a new drainage tube that will be all internal.  I can’t wait! Until then, not only will I have an external tube, but that tube will be attached to a bag to help with the drainage.
 

I am happy to say that I have not run a fever since I’ve been out of the hospital. The high fever I had early Thursday morning was scary.  But fortunately Cathy was right on it in taking my temperature and getting a hold of Piper’s physician on call. Cathy has been taking such good care of me. I just don’t know what I’d do without her.
 

Cathy got up and went right on a run this morning.  I haven’t even walked yet, although I plan to do that (solo) sometime this afternoon.  It is important to me that I keep that up, even though it won’t be anywhere near as much fun without Cathy.
 

I’ve still been struggling to keep my food down the past few days. We decided to try using my anti-nausea patch, and will supplement that with anti-nausea pills.  Not keeping my food down is sure working against our efforts to gain weight, although I was happy to weigh 133 today at Piper. It wasn’t my fluid-influenced weight of 136, but it was close. I just have to keep eating small meals, even when I’m not hungry, which is most of the time. It is a real challenge, but I know I need to do it.
 

I have a lot for which to be fortunate. Things are not necessarily easy right now, but they will get better as I keep plugging along. Today is Dan’s 27thbirthday; I want to be around to wish him many more happy birthdays.  I’m fighting to make that happen.
 

Cathy and I appreciate the love and support we receive from you everyday. We couldn’t be more fortunate in having such caring friends and family. Thank you.

Our internet connection is very spotty and slow when it is working.  We have someone coming out tomorrow to look at it (and, I hope, fix it!).  It is amazing how much we depend upon the internet to do our work.
 

I’ll keep this very brief because of the internet problem.
 

I’m feeling pretty well today.  I haven’t yet gone on a walk, but plan to do so soon.  I’ll then also have some more to eat (and hope to keep it down).  I still eat oatmeal everyday, which seems to sit fairly well with me.  I need to fix something bland for a lunch.
 

I still feel fortunate in that my tumor is holding steady in terms of size and there is nothing to speak of on my liver.  It will be great to start chemo in February.
 

Cathy and I enjoy reading our guestbook.  It is a great way for us to feel connected to all of you.  And it lifts our spirits.  Thank you for being there for us. We can’t thank you enough.